Taiwan Today
Date: December 8, 2015
Tainan District Court ruled Dec. 7 in favor of 312 residents who suffered dioxin poisoning
Anshun dioxin victims celebrate their victory in a dioxin poisoning suit Dec. 7 in Tainan City. (UDN)
caused by a chemical plant in Annan District, awarding them NT$168.17 million (US$5.11 million) in damages.
The class action suit, which was brought against plant operator Taipei City-based China Petrochemical Development Corp. and its regulator the Ministry of Economic Affairs, sought more than NT$350 million in damages, medical care expenses and mental distress.
According to the court, farmland and water surrounding the facility, known as Anshun plant, were contaminated by discharged dioxins and mercury. CPDC’s failure to address this issue resulted in individual contamination levels of 300 to 900 picogram/gram dioxin. The normal level is an average 20 pg/g.
Individual settlements are estimated at NT$365,000 to NT$4.9 million, depending on dioxin levels and health issues. The award does not affect arrangements for providing medical care to the affected by central and local government agencies until 2024. [FULL STORY]
